From left to right: Jerry Buckley, Dean of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Exercise Science &
Wellness; Shannon O’Dunn, CBOC; Letitia Bascome, GC student; Mary Najjar, GC student; Dan Lewis,
GC Student Trustee; Governing Board President Bill Garrett; GC President Sunny Cooke; GCCCD
Chancellor Omero Suarez; Karen Lanning, CBOC; Governing Board Vice President Deanna Weeks;
Governing Board Member Rick Alexander; Sharon Sullivan, Nursing.
High-tech simulation labs with lifelike mannequins programmed to respond as patients
to the prodding of nursing students. A casting room for the orthopedic technology
program. A mock apartment for students in the occupational therapy assistant program.
A blood-splatter room for forensic technology students to analyze blood drops.
A rooftop deck for astronomy students and star-gazers.
These are among the multiple learning labs that will be part of the Health/Physical
Sciences Building, a $35 million, 52,000 square-foot facility that will house science
laboratories, classrooms and offices for the following: health professions programs
(nursing, speech-language pathology assistant, orthopedic technology, cardiovascular
technology, respiratory therapy, and occupational therapy assistant), forensic
technology, a program of the Administration of Justice Department; and physics,
astronomy and physical science. An open courtyard will connect this building with
two existing science facilities. Projected completion is Spring 2010.
“This building is a dramatic illustration of our efforts in the
area of workforce development,” said Dr. Sunita Cooke, Grossmont
College president. “Our goal is to prepare our students with superior
skills and hands-on experience so they will hit the ground running.
Our goal is to offer an innovative curriculum that is responsive and
tailored to the needs of the workplace so our graduates continue to
be in high demand by employers.”
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“This building is a dramatic illustration of our efforts in the area of
workforce development,” said Dr. Sunita Cooke, Grossmont College president.
“Our goal is to prepare our students with superior skills and hands-on
experience so they will hit the ground running. Our goal is to offer an
innovative curriculum that is responsive and tailored to the needs of the
workplace so our graduates continue to be in high demand by employers.”
Debbie Yaddow, associate dean of nursing, said the new facility will mean
additional space and more training labs in which students work with
computerized mannequins — human patient simulators — in realistic
clinical scenarios set up by instructors.
“As students train at hospitals, they may not initially be exposed to
high-risk situations, but with simulation labs and our collection of
mannequins, including a child and infant and a birthing mom, instructors
can set up any clinical situation and students are able to safely practice
what to do with a real patient,” Yaddow said, adding that the simulation
labs are equipped with overhead video cameras and microphones for DVD
recordings that can be reviewed and critiqued by students and instructors.
In addition to accommodate high-demand classes, the facility’s lecture
hall is one of the features designed with community involvement in mind.
“This facility will provide greater learning opportunities, not only for
our students, but the public as well,” said Dr. Cooke. “The complex has been
designed to accommodate public events, such as health seminars, science
fairs and other competitions and demonstrations.”
The Astronomy and Physical Sciences Department, which designed the
rooftop platform, intends to offer a community oriented astronomy class
and what it calls “star parties.” “A portable planetarium is designed
to benefit astronomy students and to spark public interest in the
cosmos,” said Jerry Buckley, dean of mathematics, natural
sciences, exercise science and wellness.
The building also will have a mock apartment where forensic
technology students will learn how to process crime scenes.
Designed by Architects Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson, the complex will
consist of two wings connected by an open courtyard with an atrium,
a trickling stream and a floor-to-ceiling wall of glass with an
unobstructed view of the bucolic hills and open preserve that
abut the campus. Carrier Johnson is the interior design architect,
C.W. Driver is the construction manager and Gafcon, Inc.,
is the project manager.
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